Letters to the Editor: Ameristar officials avoid questions; Earmark tax a savings for disaster relief, and more

When I left last week’s meeting with a casino developer Ameristar, which is seeking to build a casino at the old Westingthouse site, I felt like I was being led down the garden path.

It seems that we are only given answers to the questions Ameristar cared to answer. They even said they had no knowledge that Palmer Rnewable Energy is trying to construct a power plant right up the road, which will surely cause its own set of traffic problems.

But, what I find particularly offensive is the fact that Chris Asselin, a convicted felon, is on the committee. Now I have a real problem believing this is on the up and up. It’s probably a good thing the slot machines no longer take quarters.

-- BOB ROBERTS, Springfield

Earmark tax savings for disaster relief

Reducing the state income tax from 5.3 percent to 5.25 percent sounds like a great idea. But the reality is that the “average” return for a family earning $50,000 would be only $25. We could easily get more than that by vowing to keep two days of tax free shopping in August.

Wouldn’t it be more prudent to put the “surplus” into a Disaster Recovery Fund to help those communities devastated by all the storm damage and clean-up costs this past year? After the insurance and FEMA reimbursement (in a timely manner), the money could substantially help to recover the costs incurred by Mother Nature. The unused portion of the fund should be held in reserve to offset the costs of future.

Twenty-five dollars is a small amount for a contribution to the fund. A family earning $100,000 would contribute $50, while a millionaire could contribute $500. Seems to me that contributing to a Disaster Relief Fund for a year would be beneficial to all citizens.

-- MAUREEN LAPOINTE, Springfield

AP photoNewt Gingrich

Gingrich makes mockery of his faith

In a recent letter to the editor, it was suggested by the writer that we should embrace Newt Gingrich because of his conversion to Catholicism; that this conversion shows that he is a good person.

In fact, I was shocked when I learned that Gingrich was a “communicating Catholic” since he had had three wives. How, I asked myself, can the Catholic Church, which refuses to allow divorced Catholics to take communion in the church, have allowed Gingrich, twice divorced, to be a standard bearer of Catholicism and a beloved leader of the Republican Party?

Tens of thousands of former Catholics are refused the sacraments of the church because they were divorced. Yet, Newt Gingrich, twice divorced, with children by his prior wives, is put on a pedestal by the Republican Party and the Catholic Church.

How can this happen? Could it be that he had connections and money? Doesn’t anyone see anything wrong with a man who had two previous wives and children with them and left them when they were sick with cancer? Just recently, Gingrich signed a pledge that, while president, he would not have any affairs and that he would respect his marriage and the marriages of others. What hypocrisy.

-- ED MAXWELL, South Hadley

Voter ID law should be welcomed by all

Why are certain factions so against presenting IDs to vote, which is probably the most important duty of a CITIZEN has?

We all have to provide ID to register in a hotel, to get any permit, to cash a check, etc. What is the big deal? There is nothing to hide unless there is something to hide.

-- PAUL D. PELOQUIN, Chicopee

Photo illustration by S.P. Sullivan, MassLive.comSubmit your letters to The Republican at letters@repub.com. All letters must include the writer's name, address and telephone number or e-mail address, and are subject to editing.

Alec Baldwin snubs many sensible rules

I listened to the NBC telecast last evening and can not believe they were attempting to absolve Alec Baldwin for his abhorrent behavior. We all know the rules of airline travel. There is no question. You are told to turn off all electronic devices.

Why should he be absolved? We must all obey rules?

They tried to say the presidential aircraft has all kinds of electronic gear aboard and yet it continues to fly. I leave it to one’s imagination as to the links. To lock oneself in a bathroom to avoid following rules shows the contempt Baldwin has for every other person aboard. Disrespectful. Not the 99 percent.